Hinge

ABSTRACT

A lighting fixture enclosing lamps in a wall-mounted container having a hinge that permits free removal of the cover in a limited range of open positions and permits the cover to be locked in a fully open position for access to the lamps contained therein, the hinge being of the type without a pintle and formed with a first member having a receiving flute with a constricted opening and a second member having a flared edge insertable into the receiving flute allowing limited relative swing movement between the two members.

o I 1; 1 13 1 ,1 mte tates l 1151 3,663,990 Shane [4 154] HINGE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [7 InventorI Berwyn m, n f- 682,799 4/1965 Belgium ..l6/178 73 Assi ee: Pacific Associated Li htin Inc. San Fran- 239147 7/1964 Austria "16/178 1 gn cisco, Cam g 49,220 7/1911 Austria ..l6/178 22 Filed: Dec. 11, 1969 Prim Examner Bobby Gay [2]] App] 3 4 2 3 Assistant Examiner-Peter A. Aschenbrenner Attomey-Naylor & Neal [52] U.S.Cl ..16/l78 16/171,220/31 51 1m.c1 ..E05d 11 04 [57] BSIMCT [58] Field of Search 16/171, 177, 178, 179, 191; A lighting fixture enclosing lamps in a wall-mounted container 2 260/235 having a hinge that permits free removal of the cover in a limited range of open positions and permits the cover to be References cued locked in a fully open position for access to the lamps con- UNITED STATES PATENTS tamed therein, the hinge being of the type without a plntle and formed with a first member havlng a receiving flute with a 3,422,488 1/ 1969 Horstman ..16/ 178 X on tri ted o ening and a second member having a flared 1,263,203 1918 173 edge insertable into the receiving flute allowing limited rela- 1,917,336 7/1933 l 79 tive swing movement between the two members. 2,321,118 6/1943 ..l6/l71 2,852,802 9/1958 6/17] X 1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures Patented Ma 23, 1-972 3,663,990

2 Sheets-Sheet 64 60 INVENTOR.

f 5g 3mm .5. 5mm

W i M Arm/ways Patented May 23, 1972 3,663,99

2 She etS-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

BE]? W VN E. SHANE HINGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the prior art various embodiments of hinges have been developed which do not employ conventional pivot pins common to double-leaf and pintle hinges. customarily, such em.- bodiments comprise a stationary member having a longitudinal receiving flute with an internal bearing surface. The stationary member engages a moveable leaf member that is formed with a flanged or flared edge. The receiving flute circumvents the flared edge to a degree that inhibits lateral displacement or removal of the flared edge from the flute while concurrently allowing limited arcuate or swinging movement to the leaf member. In such embodiments the flared edge of the leaf member is generally inserted into the flute by telescoping the flared edge into the receiving flute using relative shear movement.

Other hinge embodiments permit the leaf member to be directly and freely removed from the stationary member by lateral displacement of the leaf member at any position on its locus of swing.

These embodiments generally take the form of a leaf member having a pivotal element cradled in a concave receiving channel of a stationary member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In part the instant invention comprises a novel hinge of the general type noted above. The hinge is constructed to provide for locking a movable first member in a select position relative to a stationary second member. The first member can be readily disengaged from this locking position to continue to swing relative to the second member within its defined limits of swing. The stop or locking position is, in the preferred embodiment, located at the terminal of swing, such that it may be particularly functional in holding a leaf member or cover in a fully open condition. The hinge is constructed for horizontal mounting and comprises a further novel feature which allows the first member to be fully disengaged from a second member only in a limited range within the total limits of swing movement.

In the disclosed embodiment the limited range in which the two members can be freely disengaged is located adjacent to the terminal of swing which is opposite the terminal location of the stop or locking position.

The characteristics of the two member hinge in the subject invention are particularly suitable for a wall-mounted lighting fixture or on other containers utilizing horizontally positioned hinges. The following detailed description of the preferred embodiment will be directed at this environmental use of the hinge and its use in combination with other related improvements to a wall-mounted lighting fixture, including, a novel drop bracket which pivots 90 to enable full access to the lamps and ballast of the lighting fixture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the wall-mounted lighting fixture.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the lighting fixture with the cover opened for access.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view detailing the hinge joint in a closed-cover position.

FIG. 4 is a view of the hinge joint of FIG. 3 in a partially open-cover position.

FIG. 5 is a view of the hinge joint of FIG. 5 in an open-cover position.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a section of the lighting fixture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION The outer shell of the overall lighting fixture illustrated in FIG. I is designated by the numeral 10 and essentially comprises a removable cover 12 hinged to a stationary, wallmounted base 14. The cover 12 in the disclosed embodiment is formed with translucent top and bottom panels 16 mounted to a front panel 18, as illustrated with greater clarity in FIGS. 2 and 6. The translucent panels 16 are secured between the front panel 18 and two cover rails 20a and 20b. The particular arrangement of the translucent panels 16 on the cover 12 is not of substantial importance and may be varied according to particular lighting requirements. In the present embodiment the front panel 18 and the cover rails 20a and 20b are formed through an extrusion process which enables the translucent side panels 16 to be snap-fit to the extrusion-formed members. In a similar manner moulded end panels 22 may be snap-fit to the other members completing the cover 12. Screws (see FIG.

1 1) may also be employed to hold the members together.

The wall-mounted base 14 is formed by capping the ends of a channel section 24 with the two moulded end plates 26. The cover and base assemblies complete the outer shell 10 of the lighting fixture.

The cover is hinged to the top edge 28 of the wall-mounted base 14. The cover may be raised and locked in an open position as shown in FIG. 2, or lowered to a closed position as shown in phantom in FIG. 2. A detailed disclosure of the hinge construction is shown in FIGS. 3 through 6 of the drawings.

In FIG. 6 the top edge 28 of the channel section 24 is formed with an irregular receiving flute 30 along the entire length of the channel section 24. This flute defines, in part, a curved bearing surface 32 and a locking groove 33. Similarly the upper cover rail 20a is formed with a flared edge 34 along its entire length.

The sectional views in FIGS. 3 through 5 illustrate the nature of construction of the flared edge 34 of the cover rail and the receiving flute 30 on the channel section 24. In section the flared edge has a form similar to that of a boat hook with a straight back portion 36 ending in a terminal element 38, and

with a hook-like, divergent appendage 40 projecting from the straight back portion 36 at a point precedent the terminal element 38. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the divergent appendage 40 provides both a bearing surface 42 opposing the curved bearing surface 32 of the flute 30, and a catch 44 which acts against a constricting lip 46 at the opening of the flute. As the cover progressively opens, the bearing surface 42 of the divergent appendage 40 pivotally rocks on the curved bearing surface 32 of the flute 30 to orient the cover into a locked open position as sequentially illustrated by FIGS. 3 through 5.

Throughout most of the arcuate swing of the cover 12, the divergent appendage 40 and the terminal element 38 are in such orientation in the flute as to cooperate in generating a flare of greater effective width than the flute opening, thereby blocking lateral displacement of the cover 12 as illustrated in FIG. 4.

In the cover-closed position shown in FIG. 3, the cover 12 is prevented from being removed by the action of the opposite rail 20b against a longitudinal rim 48 on the opposite side of the base I4 (FIGS. 2 and 6) which forces the throat portion 50 of the flared edge 34 firmly against the outer surface of the lip 46 of the flute 30. A small flat seat 52 at the base of the divergent appendage 40, which cooperates with the flat end of the lip 53, insures a stable positioning of the flared edge 34 relative to the lip 46 when the free end of the cover overlaps the rim 48. Once the cover is breached sufficiently to clear the rim 48, the effective width of the flared edge 34 being less than the opening of the flute creates a condition in which the cover may be removed. By lateral displacement, the cover 12 may be freely disengaged from the stationary base 14. This condition exists for a breach range from approximately 10 to 25 Accidental dislodgement of the cover 12 is largely eliminated by the covers weight which bears against the lip 46 of the flute 30. It thereby requires deliberate upward lift for removal. Normally, therefore, the cover may be freely swung to an open position without fear of dislodgement.

In the cover-open position shown in FIG. 5, the terminal element 38 on the flared edge 34 of the cover rail 20a drops snugly into the longitudinal groove 33 at the base of the flute 30. In this position the straight back portion 36 of the flared edge lies against a straight wall 54 of the flute. The cover is thereby stably locked in an open position providing full access to the internal parts of the lighting fixture. Closure can be readily effected by lifting the cover slightly to disengage the terminal element 38 from the groove 33. Since the effective width of the flared edge in the fully open position is greater that the opening of the flute, the cover cannot be accidentally removed when applying the upward lift for closure.

Referring to FIG. 6, it should be noted that the cover rails 20a and 20b are of identical construction. This feature enables the cover 12 to be inverted in the event the cover rail 20a functioning as one of the hinge elements becomes damaged, whereby it can be replaced by utilizing the cover rail 20b as the hinge element. Additionally, if the translucent panels 16 are of different color or transparency. The cover 12 may be inverted when desired to present a totally different lighting effeet.

In addition to the unique hinge feature connecting the cover 12 to the wall-mounted base 14, the lighting fixture contains an improved access to a bank of fluorescent lamps designated 58 in FIG. 2. The fluorescent lamps are mounted to a lamp bracket 60 having a drop-leaf 62, end plates 64 (only one of which is illustrated) and a divider wall 66, as shown in FIG. 2. Mounted to the opposite side of the drop leaf 62 is a ballast 68.

In the operating position shown in phantom in FIG. 2, the drop leaf 62 is supported on a longitudinal stationary L-channel 70 which has a vertical member 72 and a horizontal member 74. In this position, the bottom edge 76 of the drop leaf has a perpendicular tab 78 which rests flatly on the horizontal member 74 of the L-channel. The horizontal member has an upwardly directed L-shaped end portion 80 forming a longitudinal ridge which contains the tab 78 and prevents the drop leaf 62 from slipping off the horizontal member 74 of the L-channel. When the drop leaf 62 is lowered to an access position, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the perpendicular tab 78 engages within a longitudinal groove 82 formed by an inwardly directed, gamma-shaped end portion 84 of the vertical member 72. The bottom edge 76 of the drop leaf rests on top of the ridge formed by the L-shaped end portion 80 of the horizontal member. The weight of the lamp bracket maintains the tab in the groove and prevents displacement of the drop leaf relative to the L-channel. Otherwise the lamp bracket is freely removable.

In the operating position, shown in phantom in FIG. 2, the weight of the ballast 68 is sufficient to offset the weight of the lamps 58 and maintain the drop leaf 62 against a stop tab 86 pendant from the flute 30 on the channel section 24. If desired, the lamp bracket may be secured in this position by a screw 88, through the top of the drop leaf 62 and the stop tab 86, as shown in phantom in FIG. 2.

Both the structure of the cover hinge and the structure of the hinge for the drop bracket are designed for extrusion formation and may be formed integrally with the members they connect.

Although the principal hinge construction for the cover and wall-mounted base has particular adaptability to a lighting fixture of the type herein disclosed, its peculiar characteristics make it readily adaptable to any device or container wherein it is desirable to have a hinge that permits easy removal of the leaf member and that further permits the leaf member to be locked in a select position within the limits of swing. Similarly, the hinge construction for the lamp bracket fulfills the requirements for a removable drop leaf which swings from a vertical to a horizontal position.

I claim:

1. A hinge comprising: a first member having a longitudinal receiving flute with constricting lip and an internal bearing surface having a longitudinal groove; a second member having a longitudinal flared edge insertable into said flute for limited swin ing movement of the second member relative to the first mem er and limited rectilinear movement of the second member relative to the first member in a direction generally normal to the axis about which relative swinging movement between said members occurs when said members assume a predetermined rotational position relative to one another; said flared edge having a terminal element selectively engageable with said longitudinal groove responsive to rectilinear movement of the second member relative to the first member when in said predetermined rotational position to lock said first and second members against relative swinging movement in either direction at said predetermined rotational position relative to one another, and a divergent appendage which, in cooperation with said constricting lip upon insertion of said edge into said flute, prevents lateral displacement of said first member relative to said second member during relative swinging movement of said members through a predetermined arc. 

1. A hinge comprising: a first member having a longitudinal receiving flute with constricting lip and an internal bearing surface having a longitudinal groove; a second member having a longitudinal flared edge insertable into said flute for limited swinging movement of the second member relative to the first member and limited rectilinear movement of the second member relative to the first member in a direction generally normal to the axis about which relative swinging movement between said members occurs when said members assume a predetermined rotational position relative to one another; said flared edge having a terminal element selectively engageable with said longitudinal groove responsive to rectilinear movement of the second member relative to the first member when in said predetermined rotational position to lock said first and second members against relative swinging movement in either direction at said predetermined rotational position relative to one another, and a divergent appendage which, in cooperation with said constricting lip upon insertion of said edge into said flute, prevents lateral displacement of said first member relative to said second member during relative swinging movement of said members through a predetermined arc. 